Sticky Situation Talking in Class

By Scholastic News
Sept. 4, 2009

Ricky and Nadia were talking in class. Their teacher, Mrs. Belle, thought she heard Jenny’s voice. Mrs. Belle wants to send Ricky and Jenny to the principal’s office for disrupting class. Nadia doesn’t want Jenny to get in trouble for something she didn’t do, but she doesn’t want to get in trouble either.

Click on “Comments”  to write a paragraph explaining what you think Nadia should do.

Other Scholastic News readers will be posting their thoughts about this week’s ethical dilemma, too. So come back to the Sticky Situation blog to discuss their solutions!

 Source: Scholastic News Online

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Proper Diet, Keeps Energy

By Micah Simon
Sept. 3, 2009

Proper fluid intake and a healthy pre-game diet can help youth athletes perform at their best on the football field.

As football season begins for youth athletes, it’s important for them to take care of their bodies before, during and after physical activity. Drinking the right fluids and eating the right foods is the best way for athletes to stay energized and hydrated. Oftentimes, however, kids and their parents aren’t aware of what’s really best to eat and drink during football season.

Kim Schwabenbauer is the Corporate Dietitian for Super Bakery and a member of USA Football’s Health and Safety Committee. She said an important thing for parents of athletes ages 7 to 14 to be mindful of is proper fluid intake.

“I would say my first tip would be to drink two cups or 16 ounces of water about two hours prior to practice or prior to a game,” Schwabenbauer said. “You do need to have water within your system because you are going to be sweating quite profusely whenever it’s this hot in the fall.”

Schwabenbauer also mentioned drinking sports drinks such as Gatorade for physical activity lasting longer than one hour.

“In practices or games that are lasting over an hour, they do want to consider consuming an electrolyte beverage – meaning something that has sodium and potassium,” she said. “The kids don’t necessarily need them in the first hour, but they do need them from an hour on.”

Youth athletes should also have a different diet from youths not involved in sports. Given their higher level of physical activity, youth athletes should also have a slightly higher calorie intake to stay energized.

“They are expending energy and therefore calories are being burned through activity, so their activity rate is higher so they need higher calories,” Schwabenbauer said. “At the same time, the makeup of the diet would also be different in that the carbohydrate portion of the diet needs to be a higher proportion.”

Schwabenbauer said 60 to 65 percent of the child’s diet should be complex carbohydrates, meaning those that contain fiber and whole grains. Carbohydrates are the main fuel source during activity, making it important for kids to eat carbohydrates at every meal.

Two or three hours before a game, Schwabenbauer suggests kids eat a snack or small meal. Kids don’t need to eat anything during a game as much as they need to take proper fluids.

“All they really have to consume during the actual game would be water for the first hour and then an electrolyte beverage after that,” she said. “In excessive heat, I would say an electrolyte beverage for the first hour.”

Schwabenbauer also emphasized the importance of not diluting electrolyte beverages. She said kids do this a lot because it helps the drink taste better, but it actually takes away from the nutritional benefits of the drink.

“This practice I see quite a bit when they dilute the Gatorade with a lot of water, and something they need to know is that it doesn’t perform in the same way that it’s actually supposed to,” Schwabenbauer said. “It doesn’t give them as many electrolytes, calories, energy and things like that when they dilute it.”

Within 30 minutes after a game, youth athletes should have at least a snack that has both carbohydrates and protein. Within two hours after practice or a game, Schwabenbauer said kids need to have an actual meal.

“That meal should contain all the components of a regular meal they would be eating, such as a high quality protein source like turkey, baked chicken breast or tacos with vegetables on it,” she said. “They’re also going to need a carbohydrate so they’re going to need a pasta or bread component.”

Schwabenbauer said the after-activity meal doesn’t have to be dinner food. It could also be breakfast food such as omelets with meat and veggies and whole wheat bread as long as the meal contains a protein and carbohydrate.

For parents, planning ahead is an easier and healthier choice to make for their kids. They can grab food for practice when they need it and make sure they have healthy choices easily accessible.

“You save that time,” Schwabenbauer said. “Portioning out snacks for the week, such as grapes and carrots, and it’s all set and ready to go. It’s just easy to whip out the snack from the refrigerator and not have to think a thing of it.”

Proper nutrition is a key part of success for youth athletes on and off the field. Throughout the season, the right nutritious choices can help make the best of a young athlete’s performance on the football field, while instilling healthful habits for life.

Links related to this article:

Proper Hydration can Prevent Summertime Injuries
Summit Participants Undergo Hydration 101

Source: USA Football

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Sgt. Davison Will Be Missed

By Jim Leljedal
BSO/ PIO
Sept 3, 2009

A 29-year law enforcement veteran died Tuesday, September 1st, following a battle with cancer.

Wesley Davison, 55, started his law enforcement career with the Dania Police Department on May 1, 1980 and graduated from the 83rd Police Academy.

Wes joined the BSO family on October 1, 1988 when Dania Beach merged with BSO. Wes remained in Dania Beach and continued to serve the city as a patrol deputy, detective and field training officer (FTO) until his promotion to sergeant in 1997. Once promoted to sergeant Wes transferred to BSO’s Unincorporated Fort Lauderdale Central Broward district. Wes served as a patrol sergeant for 10 years, from October 30, 1997 until March 1, 2007.

In March of 2007 Sergeant Davison was tasked with supervising the Detective Division within the Central Broward District. While battling the disease that finally claimed his life, Wes continued to serve with pride and dedication.

Sgt. Davison joined his fellow employees on June 5, 2009 at BSO’s Relay for Life at Markham Park, benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Final arrangements are as follows:

Visitation: Friday, September 4th, 2 pm – 6 pm
T.M. Ralph Funeral Home
7001 NW 4 Street in Plantation

Memorial Service: Friday, September 4th, 6 pm

Source: BSO

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Kids Can play Sports with Asthma

By Nicole Lukosius
August 28, 2009

Nearly 6.7 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma, but it doesn’t have to be something that hinders a youth football player’s experience.

Heading into the 11^th season of his career, St. Louis Rams middle linebacker Chris Draft has faced many formidable opponents on the field. But when he’s not lining up against some of the NFL’s best offensive playmakers, Draft battles another opponent off the field every day of his life.

Draft suffers from asthma, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs, and has had to manage his health ever since his playing days at Stanford. Although asthma can usually be controlled once diagnosed, it may be more common than one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 22.9 million people living in the United States have asthma – with 6.7 million suffers under the age of 18.

Dr. David Callahan, Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, said when it comes to youth athletes, parents and coaches need to educate themselves on how to handle the situation when an asthma attack strikes.

“If I had to pick two things for a coach to know, know which of your kids have asthma, and know what to do in an asthma emergency,” Dr. Callahan said. “Make sure that the kids with asthma have an asthma action plan from their physician.

“Parents of youth athletes should be working with their family physician to make sure that their asthma is well controlled and that they have both the appropriate controller medication and the appropriate rescue medication.”

Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma is not curable, but attacks should only occur when a “trigger” bothers the lungs.

“Exercise itself can do it because of the increased rate of breathing, cold weather, cold air can be a trigger,” Dr. Callahan said. “Pollen also is a very common one and is at its peaks in the spring for trees and in the fall for ragweed. Something else to look for is air pollution.”

Because this disease affects nearly 9 percent of all children, the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program (MDH) and the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program (UDOH) collaborated together to educate others on the disease through “Winning with Asthma.” A private-public partnership created by the National Lt. Governor’s Association and funded by the CDC, the “Winning with Asthma” campaign features a Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program, which Draft has signed on with as the National Spokesman.

This issue has always been something Draft said is near and dear to him, and he hopes his example will encourage others to not let asthma interfere with following their dreams.

“It is controllable,” Draft said. “With the right attention and understanding of what asthma is, you can play and enjoy playing football. You can’t ignore it – it’s like football in a way.

“If a player is struggling on the field, you don’t ignore your stumbling block. You face it. You study it. You take it on. The “Winning with Asthma” program helps people get to that point.”

The Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program is designed to help coaches learn about asthma, how it affects an athlete’s ability to compete and how coaches can help their athletes manage their symptoms while performing at their very best.

Dr. Callahan recommends these steps to follow when an asthma attack occurs:

“First of all, the athlete should tell the coach immediately, stop the activity that he’s doing, and immediately be given a rescue medication – usually Albuterol – with an inhaler or a nebulizer.”

And in the event that the asthma attack appears to be severe, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“If it’s a severe attack – if the athlete’s lips or nails are blue, or has difficulty talking, walking or drinking liquids – that’s an indication to call 9-1-1 right away,” Dr. Callahan said. “The other very good reason to call 9-1-1 is if the coach or child is simply unsure what to do. It’s never wrong to call, and minutes do count when things get severe.”

Dr. Callahan said one precaution those with asthma should take this fall involves a new vaccine. The 2009 H1N1influenza vaccine is in production and early testing now and should be available in early October.

“We recommend that for seasonal flu, all children with asthma get a flu shot, and this year, all persons with asthma should get a seasonal flu shot and also the H1N1 flu vaccine,” he said. “This is a new virus meaning it has not circulated before in the population, so because of that, there is very little immunity to it.”

He also encourages youth football coaches to look at the “Winning with Asthma” program online to learn more about how to help improve the experience for youth athletes.

“Our expectation for asthma is that youth athletes should be able to take part in activities without feeling restricted,” Dr. Callahan said. “They should be as much a member – and as good a member – of the team as children without asthma.”

Source: USA Football

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Are You A Positive Parent?

By The Schoolmarm
August 27, 2009

Dad and Jack were talking before the t-ball game.

Jack blurted out, “We’re gonna lose!”

Dad said, ” Son, you need to be more positive.”

Jack agreed, ” I’m positive we’re gonna lose!”

Okay, that story is so old that Jack is probably a grandfather by now, but it helps to make the point that we don’t always understand how to think in a positive way.

Many people approach situations from fear, and fear fosters negative thinking.  Expecting the worst perhaps is a vain effort to prepare oneself for the worst.  Anyway, it is far from life affirming.

How about you?  How do you approach daily events in your life?  Do you speak to your children from a positive or negative point of view?  Have you ever stopped to think how you sound to your kids?

For a little exercise, how could you restate these three sentences to make them more positive?

• Don’t even think of turning on that TV until your homework is done!
• If you don’t eat your green beans then forget about having the dessert!
• Why don’t you ever find your shoes before we get ready to leave?

How’d you do?  Did you think of better ways to say the same thing?  Were yours similar to mine?

• After your homework is done you can watch some TV.
• Finish your green beans so you can have some dessert.
• I really like it when you find your shoes before we get ready to leave.

It takes practicing self control to think before making threatening, or demeaning statements. You can’t un-ring a bell, and harsh words can be carried for years. Can you think of something hurtful someone said to you when you were just a kid?  I can too.

Try a more positive approach.  Censor yourself until you learn to accentuate the positive. It will make a difference in the way you feel, too.

Source: Bing Note

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Encourage Your Kids

By The Schoolmarm
August 21, 2009

 

“I can’t do it,” he said, and threw his pencil down. “They say I’m stupid in math, I guess they’re right.” He turned his chair around.

With his back to me he began to cry. I closed my eyes, shook my head, and drew a deep sigh.

What could I say to this dear little boy? What hope could I impart? I thought to myself, learning shouldn’t break a child’s heart.

“You’re a good person Jessie, there’s not a better guy in this school. You are always kind and helpful and I’ve never seen you be cruel. You can kick the ball out of sight and you run like the wind. You can do many things, my young friend.”

He turned back around.

“Let’s take a look at your assignment together, let’s see what has you stumped.” He wiped away tears with the palm of his hands, his shoulders were a little less slumped.

“Come on,” I said, with a pat on his back. “Let’s get to work, okay?” He smiled when I promised , “You will conquer this crazy long division some day!”

When children get discouraged and feel like giving up, they need to be reminded of their positive attributes. Look for what they do well and stress those things. Build them up, don’t tear them down. Believe me, they already know when they are failing. They need to be told how much they are loved, and cherished, and that your love isn’t dependent on what they can do, but who they are.

Source: Bing Note

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

School Time Flu Shots

By LIBBY QUAID
L. NEERGAARD
August 19, 2009

 Hundreds of schools are heeding the government’s call to set up flu-shot clinics this fall, preparing for what could be the most widespread school vaccinations since the days of polio.

An Associated Press review of swine flu planning suggests there are nearly 3 million students in districts where officials want to offer the vaccine once federal health officials begin shipping it in mid-October.

Many more may get involved: The National Schools Boards Association told the AP three-quarters of the districts in a recent survey agreed to allow vaccinations in school buildings.

In South Carolina, “there will be a massive attempt to use schools as vaccination centers,” said state Superintendent Jim Rex. He plans at least one vaccination clinic in each of the state’s 85 school districts.

South Dakota started offering free children’s vaccination against regular winter flu in 2007, and this year it plans to offer both kinds in many schools, said state Health Secretary Doneen Hollingsworth.

Now come the difficult details: figuring out all the logistics in giving squirmy youngsters a shot in the arm or a squirt in the nose.

That’s in addition to measures being taken to keep the swine flu virus from spreading inside schools and to keep sick kids at home.

Already, Lee County, Miss., schools have reported a few cases of swine flu the first week of school, and a Louisiana high school football team reported 20 players sick or recovering from it.

To make sure students wash their hands, Minneapolis schools have outfitted every restroom with tamperproof soap dispensers, so students don’t horse around with soap. And the district has a no-excuses policy to keep them filled.

“It sounds so simple, but it works,” district emergency management director Craig Vana said.

Bismarck, N.D., is insisting that parents keep feverish children home. “We’re going to have to be a little firmer on that this year than in the past,” superintendent Paul Johnson said.

It can be hard to tell if a child has a bad cold or flu – and swine flu and regular flu share the same symptoms. For many schools, a 100-degree temperature automatically means sending a child home.

The goal is to keep schools open; federal officials said last week schools should close only as a last resort. The emergence of the never-before-seen flu strain last spring prompted more than 700 schools to temporarily close, giving students an unexpected vacation as parents scrambled to find child care.

Some big states, like California, Ohio and Massachusetts, are focusing on those steps and not on vaccinations, because they don’t know how much vaccine the federal government will send or when it will arrive. Boston has decided against in-school vaccinations because an attempt at regular winter flu inoculations at a middle school last year flopped, and Dallas officials also have decided against school shots.

But hundreds of districts are preparing for vaccinations. At least 700 health and school officials joined an online seminar last week by the National Association of County & City Health Officials on how to run school flu vaccinations.

The government is awaiting results of vaccine studies that began last week before making a final decision on whether and how to offer swine-flu inoculations. If vaccinations go forward, children are to be among the first in line. They could get vaccine at a variety of places, but federal officials want schools to play a starring role.

“The vaccine over time will be available to every child,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview with the AP. “And I personally think the best place for them to have access would be at their local school or at a school in their neighborhood.”

An AP-GfK poll last month found parents like that convenience: Nearly two-thirds said they were likely to give permission if their child’s school offered vaccinations.

The school setting is attractive for many reasons, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Swine flu seems to strike the young most often, and it’s particularly easy to spread from child to child. Moreover, school-age children “don’t see doctors very often,” Schuchat told the AP, after they’ve accumulated the list of vaccinations required for school entry.

She added that it should be relatively easy for schools to offer flu-shot clinics because the federal government would be buying swine flu vaccine and sending it free to states.

“You won’t have to screen for insurance. That’s been a big challenge in school-associated regular flu-shot clinics,” Schuchat said. “That slows down the process.”

There is plenty of experience with vaccinating school kids for regular flu, and there is plenty of evidence it works.

For the fourth year running, Knox County, Tenn., vaccinated 30,000 children for free in schools and daycare centers last year. The county often closed schools because of winter flu outbreaks in the past, but it hasn’t since vaccinations began.

And in the last flu pandemic, in 1968, Tecumseh, Mich., vaccinated 85 percent of its school-age children, resulting in two-thirds less illness there than in a neighboring community.

There is an important difference with this year’s swine-flu inoculations: Health officials think two separate doses, about three weeks apart, will be needed. Studies are under way now to confirm that. If so, it means any school that offers the first shot must set up for each recipient to get the second dose.

Different school districts handle vaccinations differently. Some will offer only vaccine against the regular winter flu – also important, as both types are expected to hit this year. In Florida’s Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, the health department won an economic stimulus grant to vaccinate every student at all 78 elementary schools against seasonal flu, said Rita Becchetti, supervisor of school health services.

That could be confusing for parents trying to remember which vaccine their child is getting.

Chicago, on the other hand, probably will have swine-flu shot clinics at select high schools, not elementary schools, saying it simply doesn’t have the workers to send teams to more than 600 schools.

Berkeley County, W.Va., is considering drive-thru vaccinations at its three high schools, said district official George Michael.

In New York City, swine flu exploded in the spring at Saint Francis Preparatory School, which sent home 102 sick kids in one day. Today, City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley’s first choice is for kids to get vaccinated by their own family doctors, but he’s looking into clinics at schools or other locations.

“There’s an awful lot of children who need to be vaccinated,” Farley said.

Once the decision is made to offer flu shots at school, there are still issues to be worked out.

Not only must a parent sign a permission form, but someone needs to make sure it’s filled out correctly and matches up with the kid. And there is staffing: Health professionals will need to administer shots and also check kids for reaction to the vaccine.

Schools will also need to decide whether parents should be present, said Brenda Greene, director of school health programs for the National School Boards Association.

“Are you going to do it at a time when the parents can be present, if they want?” Greene said. “I’ve heard the kids are more panicky when their parents are around than when they’re not.”

Knox County, Tenn., has always used FluMist, the nasal spray flu vaccine, to eliminate that concern, and will again this year in school vaccinations against regular flu. But most of the swine flu vaccine supply will be in shot form, and program director Jennifer Johnson hasn’t decided whether to offer that in schools, too. She said one possibility is to inoculate kids at elementary schools after-hours, so parents could hold scared youngsters and then be vaccinated themselves.

The nasal spray is popular. Last year, FluMist maker MedImmune said it sent about 450,000 doses of the nasal spray vaccine to 140 school vaccination programs. The company expects FluMist vaccinations against regular winter flu to nearly double in schools this year.

Duncan, the education secretary, understands the more immediate issue for many schools is the start of the new school year. Once kids are back in class, “you want to get parents focused on the vaccine,” he said.

In St. Paul, Minn., vaccinations are on the back burner until school gets under way after Labor Day, said Ann Hoxie, assistant director of student health and wellness.

“It’s not going to be the first thing on everybody’s mind. Reading and writing remain at the top of the list,” Hoxie said.

Editor’s Note: Contributing to this story from the states were Associated Press writers Seanna Adcox, Christine Armario, Donna Blankinship, Terry Chea, Sandra Chereb, Bob Christie, Beth DeFalco, Melinda Deslatte, P.J. Dickerscheid, Jennifer Dobner, Elizabeth Dunbar, Benjamin Greene, Samantha Gross, Amy Beth Hanson, Carla K. Johnson, Dirk Lammers, Sarah Larimer, Matthew Leingang, Jay Lindsay, Deanna Martin, William McCall, Phyllis Mensing, Shaya Mohajer, Jean Ortiz, Dinesh Ramde, Monica Rhor, Barbara Rodriguez, Zinie Chen Sampson, Jamie Stengle, Nafeesa Syeed, Emily Wagster Pettus and Chris Williams.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Date Night’ Your Kids

by Jim Burns, PhD
August 14, 2009

 

The power of parents “being there” for their kids is so profoundly meaningful that we often miss it. When kids understand that their parents are available and accessible to them, kids will often thrive during the adolescent years. Parents who are present and involved in the lives of their kids place important emotional, physical and spiritual “deposits” that will continue to influence their kids for years to come. Many times parents look for the latest parenting fad to help their kids grow into mature adults. Yet one key component for building kids’ lives is right in front of them: investing time, energy and a commitment to ‘be there’ for their kids. A regular, one-on-one ‘date night’ with each of your kids is a great place to begin intentionally investing in the overall health and growth of your child. Here are five tips for having a great ‘date night’ with your kids.

Choose to do something your kids want to do.  At times, when parents want to do something together with their kids, they’ll select an activity that they have interest in, but their kids have little or no interest in.  If you really want to create a positive ‘date night’ culture where your kids want to hang out with you, try doing things that the kids are interested in.  While this is a simple idea, it can reap a lot of benefits! And remember, ‘date nights’ don’t have to be complicated! They can be as simple as taking your child out to get an ice cream cone or throwing a Frisbee around in the yard.

Communicate.  Be sure to engage your son or daughter in conversation at some point during your ‘date night’.  Don’t just talk about what you are interested in.  Talk about anything and everything.  Ask your kids about their interests, opinions and feelings.  Ask open-ended questions that can’t be answered yes or no.  (Note: if you have not had a history of talking with your kids, getting started may seem a bit awkward to both you and your kids.  Don’t let this get in your way.  Share with your kids what you are trying to do (build stronger relationships / reconnect) and start slowly with reasonable expectations.  Just keep at it!)

Listen. Don’t do all of the talking on a ‘date night’ with your child! Communication is a two way street, so be sure to work at listening. Listening is the language of love.  Through listening, you demonstrate that you value your kids. When you take the time to really pay attention, show empathy and listen – you are taking a key step in connecting with your kids.  When kids know that their parents will really listen (instead of immediately “correcting”) they will be more willing to talk.

Display affection.  Even though teenagers are in the process of becoming adults and separating from their parents, they still need the affection of their parents.  In fact, sexual promiscuity in teenage girls can often be traced back to a desire for (and lack of) affection from their fathers. Dads, be sure to offer your kids genuine affection through loving words, affirmation, encouragement, small gifts and appropriate touch.  (For ideas on physical affection, check out our free tip sheet, “Keeping in Touch with Your Kids”.)

Never embarrass your kids in front of their peers.  It’s possible that a ‘date night’ activity might take you onto your son or daughter’s “territory” – to a place where they may run into some of their peers. Gentle teasing is one thing, but embarrassing your kids in front of their peers might be close to being an unpardonable sin in teen culture. Show respect to your kids and they’ll be more willing to hang out with you – and your ‘date nights’ will be much more enjoyable as well.

Source: Homeword

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know if you have done this with your kids? Can you tell us your story? dan@youngchronicle.com

Summer Trip to Sweden

By Alan Gelman
Kids Press Corps
August 12, 2009

Editor’s Note: PHOTO:  My mom, me, and Mikael and his mom, Natalie, in Times Square in New York City. Photo Courtesy Alan Gelman

We would like to know what you did for your summer? dan@youngchronicle.com

 

Sweden is an amazing and beautiful country. It is a monarchy (ruled by a king and a queen), located in Northern Europe. It borders Norway and Finland, and a bridge called the Oresund Bridge connects Sweden to Denmark. It is part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Sweden’s current population is about 9.2 million people.

A few of those people came to visit me and my family this summer. I talked to them about what it is like to live in Sweden. I also learned a lot about the language.

My friend Mikael Carrlsson told me that his favorite sport is soccer (which they call football). In school he learns English along with his native Swedish language. He also studies math, art, writing, reading, and Swedish history.

A traditional Swedish dish is kalops, or moose meat soup. Swedish people also love pancakes with jelly and whipped cream.

In Sweden people use kronors for currency, and eight kronors equal one dollar.

I learned to speak a little Swedish while Mikael was here. I learned that hej means hello; kontroll means remote, bil means car, and klocka means clock.

People usually live in apartment buildings, he said, and the Harry Potter series is very popular. Another favorite Swedish book series is LasseMajas Detektivbyra,  which translates to Lasse and Maja’s Dectective Agency.

Higher education in Sweden is free for all citizens. Health care is also free, but visits to the doctor are limited to four minutes per patient.

I also asked Mikael what holidays he celebrates.

“Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter,” he says. “We also celebrate Mid-Summer, where people dance and sing together.”

Overall, I think Sweden is a wonderful country. Researching it for Mikael’s visit—and this blog—was really interesting.

 

Source: Scholastic News Online

NG Kids in Guinness World Record

By NGK
August 12, 2009 

National Geographic Kids set the world record today for the largest collection of denim clothing to recycle.

The final count, verified by Stuart Claxton for Guinness World Records, is an astounding 33,088 pieces of denim clothing! Erek H., a NG Kids reader from Ohio, collected 1,684 pairs of jeans for the project.

He had the honor of putting the final pair of jeans into the display…jeans that once belonged to Ben Stiller! The actor donated one of his pairs of jeans at the beginning of the jeans drive.

Visit the Green Scene blog to find out more about the record attempt

Check out videos of other Guinness World Records

Read about the record NG Kids set for the longest chain of shoes

Source: National Geograohic

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

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